Thanks in part to a jump in sales of its Refuge name-brand denims, San Diego-based fashion retailer Charlotte Russe Holding earned $45.3 million in the quarter ended Sept. 24, a 22 percent jump from the same period a year ago.

Sales rose 30 percent from last year to $179.9 million.

The chain plans to open 35 stores funded through cash flow and current capital. Mark Hoffman, the firm's chief executive, noted that there will be "significant corporate pressures" in fiscal 2006. Nevertheless, he expects to see comparable-store earnings of 17 to 21 cents per share in the current quarter, compared with 9 cents during the same period of the last fiscal year.

Androclus trial misses goals

Androclus Therapeutics said its experimental treatment for rheumatoid arthritis failed to meet the primary goals of a Phase 2 clinical trial. The privately held San Diego biotechnology company said that some of the data was encouraging and that it may redesign and launch another clinical study.

Senomyx files to sell shares

Senomyx said it agreed to sell about 3.5 million shares of its common stock in a public offering as part of a shelf registration filed last month. The San Diego company, which makes flavor enhancers for the food industry, expects net proceeds of about $49.7 million from the offering, which is expected to close Nov. 9.

La Jolla biotech cuts losses

La Jolla Pharmaceutical reported a loss of $5.9 million, or 8 cents per share, in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with a loss of $12.8 million, or 21 cents per share, in the same period last year. No revenue was reported.

The San Diego biotechnology company had $15.7 million in cash at the end of September. La Jolla Pharmaceutical has an agreement with a group of investors for an additional $66 million in funding, subject to stockholder approval at a Dec. 2 meeting.

Hollis-Eden reports earnings

Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals reported a loss of $5.7 million, or 27 cents per share, in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with a loss of $5.6 million, or 29 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Revenue was $5,000 in the third quarter, compared with no revenue in the year ago period. The San Diego specialty drug company had $51.5 million in cash at the end of September.

Raytheon wins Navy contract

The Naval Sea Systems Command at the Washington Navy Yard has awarded a $19.2 million contract to Raytheon for engineering and support services on certain electronic systems for the LPD 17 Class Amphibious Transport Dock Ship Program. The work will be performed in San Diego and is expected to be completed by September 2006.

SDSU Foundation receives pact

The Space and Naval Warfare System Center in San Diego has awarded a $5.6 million contract to the San Diego State University Foundation to provide commercialization services of defense and homeland security technologies. The work will be performed in San Diego and San Bernardino.

S.D. firm gets research work

San Diego-based Information Systems Laboratories said it was awarded a small-business innovative research contract to develop new sensors and software for submarines. The electric field sensors are intended to help reduce the risk of colliding with surface ships as a submarine rises to periscope depth. Including options that could extend the work to four years, the contract value is just over $1 million.

Cubic unit qualifies to bid

San Diego-based Cubic said its defense business has qualified to bid for work under the U.S. Navy's generic reconfigurable training systems program. The work, which could be worth as much as $15 million, covers computer simulations for training crews. The Naval Air Systems Command is expected to award the first orders for the systems in early 2006.

Honeywell plans stock buyback

Honeywell International Inc. said it plans to buy back as much as $3 billion of its shares. The buyback represents about 84.7 million shares, or 10 percent of the stock outstanding, based on Thursday's closing price of $35.43. Yesterday shares of Honeywell rose 47 cents to $35.90 in New York Stock Exchange trading. The stock is up 1.4 percent year to date.

The company has repurchased 42 million shares valued at about $1.5 billion since the fourth quarter of 2003.